Hydraulic check for looms



Dec. 30, 1947. o. A. KOTTEMANN 2,433,764

HYDRAULIC CHECK FOB LOOMS Filed Nov. 225, 1942. 4 Sheets- Sheet l fro H. KorrsMA/vu Dec. 30, 1947. o. A. -KOTTEMANN 2,433,764 l HYDRAULIC CHECK FCR Looms 'l Filed'Nov. 251942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 35 :inventor: OTTO A. Korrammm attorneys Dec. 3o, 1947.

O. A. KQTTEMANN HYDRAULIC CHECK FOR LOOMS Filed Nov. 23, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 nnentor: 0 TTO HKorrgMnNn Dec. 30, 1947. o. A.- KOTTEMANN l HYDRAULIC CHECK FOR LOOMS Filed Nov. 23, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IInventor! v0 TTO KOTTEMANN (Ittomegs Patented Dec. 3o, 1947 HYDRAULIC CHECK Foa LooMs a Otto A. Kottemann, Greenville, S. C.. assigner to William D. Dodenho, Greenville, S. C.

Application November 25 Claims. l

This invention relates to a snubbing device and more especially to a hydraulic check or snubber for checking the oscillatory movement of a loom picker stick at the ends of its inner and outer strokes.

In the operation of present day looms, the shuttle is propelled back and forth along the loom lay and through the warp shed at very high speeds. Some looms operate at 200 or more picks per minute, and therefore, the problem of properly expelling and receiving the shuttle atl th`e ends of its path of travel becomes highly important. For example, if the forward or inward motion of the picker stick is not properly controlled, when the shuttle is expelled from the shuttle box, the shuttle is likely to be thrown wild, or out of its prescribed path of travel, and thus produce defective cloth. Also it is very essential to yieldingly bring the picker stick to rest as soon as possible after its forward stroke has been delivered.

The checking of the picker stick on its outward or retraction stroke is equally important, because the impact of the incoming shuttle must be partially absorbed by the picker on the upper end of the stick. If the stick does not yield properly when the shuttle first engages the picker, the shuttle will rebound and be improperly positioned for the vsucceeding inward stroke; however, the movement of the stick must be arrested within a comparatively short space.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a hydraulic checkor snubber which is adapted to arrest a loom picker stick at. the limits of itsAinner and outer strokes. ent embodiment of the invention, a liquid containing cylinder having a piston therein is operatively connected to the lower portion of the pickel` stick, so that the piston will be reciprocated back and forth by the picker stick oscillation. During this reciprocation, the flow of the liquid from one side of the piston to the other is controlled in accordance with the checking action desired. and as a result, the inward and outward movements of the picker stick are yieldingly arrested. The conventional picker stick operating mechanism, such as a lug strap, is adapted to be employed in association with the present checking device.

It is another object of this invention to provide a two-way picker stick checkl of the class described in combination with means for respectively varying the arresting action of the stick on the inner and outer strokes.

It is another object of this invention to pro- In the pres- 2 3, 1942, SerilNo. 466,565

vide a. snubbing device comprising a liquid pressure cylinder into which a generally tapered'piston is adapted to enter, the cross sectional area of said piston being substantially Athe same size and shape as the cylinder at its larger end and gradually diminishing in cross sectional area'to its smaller end, so that as the smaller end moves into the cylinder, the escape of liquid will gradually diminish and thus oilerv increasedvresistance to the inward movement.

It is another object of this invention to provide a two-way hydraulic check or snubbing device comprising the above-named combination 'of a cylinder and tapered piston for arresting the movement in one direction, and a dashpot associated with the larger end of the piston for arresting the movement in the opposite direction.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

j Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a loom, showing certain portions thereof in section, and illustrating an improved hydraulic snubbing apparatus for checking the movements of the loom picker stick at the inner and outer stroke limits,

the apparatus being shown in its approximate position for receiving the impact of the shuttle against the picker;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional vie through the snubber unit, showing the portions thereinin a, position corresponding with the inner stroke limit of the picker stick;A

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 but showing the interior portions thereof in a position corresponding with the outer stroke limit of the picker stick;

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view taken along the line I-l in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 5 5 in' Figure 2;.

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 8-6 in Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 'I-l in Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 8-8 in Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a. sectional plan view taken along the line 9-9 in Figure 2;

Figure 10 is a, sectional plan view taken along the line Ill-I0 in Figure 1, illustrating the connecting means between the snubber vunit and the loom picker stick; e

. Figure 11 is an exploded isometric View of certain interior portions of the snubber unit:

Figure 12 is an isometric view of the dash-pot plate which is adapted to work-in conjunction with the pistondisposed within the pressure unit;

Figure 13 is an isometric view of a pressure cylinder which receives the parts shown in Figure l1 when the pressure unit is in an assembled position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I denotes portions of a loom frame, in which is mounted for oscillation a conventional rocker shaft I I, said rocker shaft having the lower end of a loom sword I2- xedly secured thereto. Thisloom sword extends upwardly and is adapted to support a lay I4 which, in turn, supports a shuttle box I5.

Rocker shaft I I also has ixedly secured thereto a base member I6, upon which a picker stick shoe l 1 n is adapted to rock back and forth. shoe l1 supports an upwardly extending picker stick I8, which stick penetrates a slot I8 in the lay I4.

. The upper projecting end of the picker stick I8 is disposed within the shuttle box I5, and has a picker 20 secured thereon, said picker being adapted to receive and expel a conventional loom shuttle 2I during the normal operation of the loom.

In order for the picker stick I8 to be rotated in a clockwise manner about shoe I1, when the shuttle 2l is to be expelled from the shuttle box,

` it is necessary to. provide some suitable means such as a conventional lug strap 25. One end of this lug strap encircles the intermediate portion of the picker stick and is held in position by means of notched hold-up strap 26. The other end of this lug strap is connected as at 21 to a lever 28,

l shuttle box, a picker such as indicated by reference character 20 is adapted to receive the nose of the shuttle. This picker stick on the opposite side then propels the shuttle reversely through the shed tothe shuttle box I5 shown in the drawings,

where the picker .20 will receive the nose of the,

shuttle.

The above-described-mechanism and mode of operation is conventional in loom structures, but it is thought necessary to describe and illustrate this mechanism in order to more clearly set forth the function of the present invention.

Since higher speed looms make it necessary to propel the shuttle 2l across the warp sheds at a correspondingly increased rate of travel, there is a resultant increase of force to be checked when the shuttle reaches the shuttle box. There is also an increased momentum of the picker stick itself to be checked after the picker stick has delivered and received its stroke to .and from the shuttle. Therefore, it is seen that two checking actions are necessary in order to arrest the picker stick at the outer and inner limits of its stroke.

There is another important factor to be considered Vwhen checking the picker stick at the inner and outer limits of its stroke during the said leverbeing pivoted as at 29 to theloom frame I0. A conventional means, not shown, is employed for oscillating the lever 28 back and forth about pivot point 29 to thereby impart the necessary sudden thrust upon the'picker stick and .cause the shuttle 2| to be expelled from-the shuttle box I5.l

After the shuttle has been expelled, the picker stick I8 will move toward outermost position lillav by virtue of a conventional torsion spring '30: however, it will stop short of that position, according to usual practice. for instance, approximately as indicated in Fig. 1. Here thel spring tension may be quite low or near zero, and the conventional check strop (not shown) may impede and thus momentarily stop the picker stick, in position to receive the shuttle impact, whereupon the check strap absorbs part of the momentumvinvolved. This spring is disposed beneath the base member I8 and normally rotates the picker stick I8 and shoe I'l in a countergllockwise manner through the medium of a strap When the loom is in'operation, the members I2 to 20 inclusive are adapted to rock back and forth toward and away from the observer in Figure 1 about the rocker shaft II as an axis. At the same time, the picker stick I8 and its associated picker 20 oscillates back and forth in a. plane disposed substantially at right angles to the plane of oscillation of members I2 to 20 to thereby receive and expel the shuttle 2l into and from the shuttle box I5. It is, of course, understood that in each loom structure there is an opposite-hand structure to the 4structure shown in Figure 1 disposed on the opposite side of the loom.

operation of a loom; namely, that of having un equal forces to be checked at the respective limits of travel. It is well known that the inward stroke of a picker stick, when expelling the shuttle from the shuttle box, is of considerably greater force than the outward stroke of the picker stick, which results from an incoming shuttle striking the picker on the upper end of the picker stick as it enters the box because the binder ordinarily assists in stopping the shuttle when it enters the shuttle box. However, proper checking of the outward stroke of the picker stick is a critical matter if rebound of the shuttle is to be prevented, and hence this checking action is much more important than that of checking the inward stroke of the picker stick. For these rea-- sons. the snubbing or checking apparatus herein described must have a different type of checking mechanism cooperating with the inward stroke such as band straps 3B. This unit comprises a housing 31, said housing having threadably secured upon the vupper end thereof a. cap. member 38. Rotatably mounted in this cap member is a shaft 39 which projects to the exterior of the unit and has flxedly secured on the projecting end thereof the lower end of a lever 40, said lever 40 having pivotally secured to its upper end as at 4I a link 42.

Link 42 is connected to a second link 43 by a turn sleeve 44, therefore, when it is desired to vary the over-all length of links 42 and 43, it is only necessary to manipulate the turn sleeve 44 because the threads on one end of the turns sleeve are right-handed and the threads in the other end are left-handed. The left-hand end of link .43 (Figure 1) is pivotally secured as at 45 to la fitting 46, said fitting being secured around the lower intermediate portion of picker stick I8. During the operation of the loom, the picker stick .I8 assumes the dotted line position I8a at the limit of its inward stroke and at the same time,

the lever 40 of the snubber unit 35 assumes position 40a. The outer limit of the picker stick 4I8 i space between disks 64 and tion or the lever 49 being designated by reference y character 40h.

By observing Figure 4, it can be seen that the cap member 39 has projecting hubs 39a and 98h extending from opposed sides thereof. These hubs serve as bearings for the shaft 39. The hub 39a has threadably secured over its end a cap member 49, which completely closes this end and prevents leakage of liquid from cap 38, whereas the hub 38h has a similar cap 50 threadably secured thereover, which cap is penetrated by the previously described shaft'39. A packing gland is disposed immediately beneath cap member 50 and around the shaft 39 to prevent leakage. When it is desired to reverse the shaft 89, end for end,v and thereby position the lever t4|) adjacent the hub 38a, it is necessary to remove the shaft from cap 38, then remove lthe caps 49 and 50, then reverse the shaft, end for end,`and 'position it again in hub members 38a and 39h, after which the cap member 50 will be placed on hub 38a and the, cap member 49 on hub 38h.

The intermediate portion of shaft 39 has secured thereto asat 55 a laminated bifurcated lever 56, said lever 56 being preferably formed from spring plate members 56a and 56h, which, in turn, have their free ends notched as at 51 to form a fork. The prongs of lever 56 have secured in the outer end thereof alined pins l58, said pins having their proximate ends disposed adjacent the opposedsides of a vertically disposed shaft 59 and between spaced collars 69 and 6| around this shaft. The above-described connection between the shaft 59 and shaft 39 permits the shaft 59 toaxially rotate withinA its bearing while it is being vertically reciprocated. A disk 64, having a centrally disposed bore 65 therein is provided, said bore being adapted to slidably receive shaft 59 and serve as a bearing. Disk 64 is threadably mounted in the upper portion of housing 31.

Disposed immediately below the disk 64, but in spaced relation thereto, is a second disk 66, said disk 6'6 also being threadably secured on the interior of housing 31. Figure 12 is an isometric view showing the lower face of this disk, whereas Figure 6 illustrates the top face thereof. Disk 66 is provided with a centrally disposed bore 68, which bore is slightly larger than the diameter of shaft 59 to permit free vertical reciprocatory motion of this shaft when the snubbing apparatus is in operation. 'I'he 66 is designated by reference character 19.

Shaft 59 penetrates bore 68 and has lxedly secured on the lower end thereof a cylindrical piston 69 fluted at 69a. The upper portion of the iiuted piston has a larger cross-sectional area, but the lower portion gradually tapers inwardly until, at the lower or front end thereof the cross-sectional area ls much less.

(See Figure 1.)

6 been expelled by the picker 29. the displacement of the liquid by the upper portion of piston I9 will arrest the inward motion' oi picker stick Il'. There is normally a slight -clearance 12a between the upper portion of the piston 69 and the basel of cavity 12 when the piston 89 is in its uppermost position corresponding to the position IIa of the picker stick. The amount of this clearance may be varied, if desired, t'o thereby control the time and eii'ect of the retarding action.

By observing Figure 6, it will be noted that the upper face of the disk 89 has a plurality of radially spaced vanes 18 integral therewith, said vanes having the outer edges thereof disposed adjacent the interior periphery of casing 31. The spaces between vanes 19 are designated by reference characters 13a. Penetrating the casing 31 at a point substantially at the s ar'ne elevation vas the vanes 18 is a threaded stud 11, said stud having an inner pointed end 11a which is adapted to llt in one of the spaces 16a between two adjacent vanes 18, and thereby lock the disk 66 in position. When it is desired to raise or to lower the disk 88 within the casing 31 to thereby vary the amount of clearance 12a between the piston 69 and the base of cavity 12, the stud 11 is removed and a pointed object such as a screw driver is inserted so that the inner end of the pointed object will penetrate a space 16a. Since the diameter of the stud screw hole is somewhat larger than the distance between adjacent spaces 16a, the disk 16 can be turned by repeated insertions of the pointed object in the stud hole and spaces, and by applying arotative force upon the disk at each insertion. Thus the time when the piston enters the dash-potv12` can be varied.

Concentrically disposed below the disk 66 and in spaced 'relation thereto is a cylinder 19, said cylinder having a cylindrical bore 80 therein which has substantially the same shape and diameter in cross-section as vthe upper portion of piston 69. Cylinder 19 has an enlarged rim or flange 8| integral with its upper portion, and

immediately below this rim is a restricted y 90 integral with its outer periphery. The outer edges of these lugs lie in a circle, whose diameter is substantially the lsame as the interior diameter of housing 91, consequently the lugs will serve to hold the cylinder in proper position. The bottom of the pressure cylinder 84 has lugs 9| integral therewith, which lugs rest upon the bottom of housing 31. l

In order to fix the pressure cylinder in position within the housing 31, suitable bolts 94 are provided, said bolts penetrating the bottom of the housing and having the upper ends thereof thread'ably secured in holes 84a in the bottom of restricted skirt portion |00 integral therewith.w

Around this restricted portion, a valve guide and spring spportingmember is adapted to nt.

' Member i|0| has four pairs of spaced prongs |08 extending downwardly from the lower side thereof, thereby providing four vertical slots |08 between-which projections |01 of valve plate |08 are adapted to slidably flt. It is therefore seen that the four projections |01 of the` valve plate |08 each slide in a vertical kslot |08 between prongs |05 during the operation of the checking mechanism.

A compression spring |09 is disposed around the prongs |05 and has its lower end resting upon the upper surfaces of projections |01. The upper portion of the spring |09 abuts the outstanding flange |0|a on the upper portion of valve guide |0|, therefore, there is a normal tendency for the spring |09 to urge the valve plate |08 downwardly. When the valve plate is in its lowermost position, it rests upon a valve seat I2, which seat surrounds an opening. I8. y

Figure 3 shows the valve plate |08 when disposed upon the seat ||2. When in this position, the piston 69 is disposed within the bore 80 thereby closing all outlets from the pressure chamber 84 except for a small port ||5 in a bleeder valve |I8.

The substantially lowermost position of the piston 69, such as .shown-in Figure 3, corresponds to the dotted line positions 40h and |8b ofmembers 40 and I8. In other words, after the picker stick I8 has received the impact of the shuttle and brought the same substantially to rest in the shuttle box, the piston 89 is at its lowermost position within the pressure cylinder .19. It should be borne in mind that when the piston 69 is near its lowermost position. the entire opening 80 is closed, and therefore, no liquid vcan escape upwardly therethrough; however, when the lower end of the piston 69 first enters the bore 80 in the manner such as shown in Figures 2 and '1, the tapered flutes 69a. in the lower periphery of the piston 89, permit a substantial amount of the liquid to escape between the outer surface of the piston and theinner side-walls of the bore 80. The flutes 69a taper outwardly and upwardly in curved lines from the 'bottom of the piston. At a point near the upper'edge of the piston, each flute mergeswith the piston periphery and disappears entirely. thereby providing a piston having its upper portionof substantially the same cross-sectional area as the bore 80 in the cylinder, but having the lower portion cut away so that the cross-sectional area is substantially less than that of said bore. Preferably the shape oi the flutes is so curved that the hydraulic resistance to inward movement of the piston increases more rapidly than its depth of pentration into the cylinder. It is to be understood that the piston 69 is so constructed as to form with the cylinder 19 an escape port, or escape passageway, whose ow area decreases progressively as said piston advances into said cylinder.

The remaining lower portions of the piston be-` tween the utes 89a, are of the same diameter as the diameter of the upper portion of the piston where there are no flutes.

As the piston 09 moves downwardly to the position shown in Figure 3, the amount of liquid permitted to escape upwardly around the piston gradually decreases in proportion to the increasing cross-sectional area. It is, of course, evident that the shape, size andlocation of the flutes 80a will largely determine the amount oi resistance offered to the movement of the picker stick I0, and also the time at which this resistance is offered during the movement of the picker stick. At the time the picker stick. I9 begins its outward stroke, the piston 89 moves downwardly into bore 90. Also atthis time, the valve plate |08 is seated to close opening ||9 under the pressure of spring |09 which prevents escape of the liquid ||8 through this opening.

When the picker stick 1| 8 begins its inner stroke, the liquid H8 within the pressure chamber will be suddenly lifted and consequently, the valve |08 will be raised substantially to the position shown in Figure 2 to permit 'the liquid outside ofthe pressure cylinder 04 to surge upwardly through the opening ||3 into the pressure cylinder 84. This upward movement will be partially resisted, of course, by the compression spring |09 thereabove. It should be borne in mind that as the piston 69 approaches its lowermost position, a certain amount of liquid IIB will be permitted to escape by way of port I5 in bleeder valve I i6, and thereafter, the liquid will pass from this port through ports |20 into the annular space |2| between the outer periphery of the pressure chamber 84, and the inner periphery of housing 31. If this bleeder valve were not provided, the resiliently or cushioning effect of the piston 69, as it reaches its lowermost position, would be greatly aiected, since it is practically impossible to compress liquid.

The amount of this bleeding action through ports H5 and |20 can be controlled by a screw l|22, said screw being threadably secured in valve body |16 and having its inner end pointed and so shaped that it will nt into, and close port Il! when desired. Usually this screw is adjusted to suit operating conditions to thereby permit the proper amount of liquid to flow from the interior of pressure cylinder 84 while the picker stick |8 approaches its outermost stroke limit. y

The previously described laminated forked members comprising plates 58a and 08h serve an important function when the piston 89 approaches its lowermost limit. (Figures 2, 3, and- 4.) For example, if the port Il! is closed so that an insunlcient amount of liquid will be permitted to flow outwardly from the compression chamber, the laminated lever structure 88a and 08h (preferably made of lspring steel) will yield or flex;

thereby providing a flexible retarder connection between the piston 89- and the picker stick |8. In other words, the plates 50a and 88h will flex long enough to permit the proper amount or liquid H9 to flow out of the compression chamber f to the exterior annular space |2| thereby doubly.

insuring a yielding retarder action for the picker stick I8 at its outer stroke limit. It will be understood that plates 58a and 58h are not relied upon for any checking of the picker stick and shuttle, because resilient action whether furnished by a spring or by a compressible fluid ls unsatisfactory; hence it will be clear that these plates are so stiff as to be normally inoperative, but are capable of yielding to avoid breakage of parts in the event that the bleeder valve is closed. The bleeder valve structure designated by reference characters H0, III, |20, and |22, also permits air to exhaust which might be disposed in the liquid at the upper portion of the annular space |2|. If there is any air within the unit.

it is desirable to have it disposed as much as to surge upwardly within the unit. It is desirable to maintain the liquid as much as possible in the bottom of the housing so that the piston 88 will always be submerged. It will be noted by referring to Figures 2, 3, 5, 6, and 12 that the disks 84 and B8 have holes |30 and |3| respectively therein. The holes |30, in the upper disk 84, are

on a diii'erent radius from the holes |3| oi.' the lower disk 80. Also there are a diflerent number of holes in each disk which permits the holes to be staggered. This arrangement of the holes acts as a baille to minimize the upward ow oi.' liquid H8, as the liquid tends to surge, from the bottom of the unit to the top of the unit. In the present disclosure it is necessary for the liquid to rst enter holes |3| and then proceed laterally through the space between disks 04 and 0B. after which it travels again upwardly through holes |30. l i

The checking of the picker stick and shuttle will now be brieily described.v As already pointed out, with the beginning oi' the outward stroke of the picker stick under the influence of the' spring 30, the piston B9 begins to enter its cylinder and assists in cushioningly bringing the pickerstick substantially to a condition of rest'approximately in the position shown in Fig. 1, at which time the shuttle enters the shuttle box and moves past the binderand strikes the picker stick with a powerful impact. The hydraulic resistance tends to rapidly increase substantially in proportion to the velocity of the shuttle. This tendency permits the shuttle to 'be brought to rest very rapidly and in a very short travel. But since the energy of the shuttle is being absorbed, the force or impulse is being correspondingly diminished. wherefore the hydraulic resistance tends to diminish. Hence too rapid and abrupt' stoppage and possible rebound of the shuttle are avoided. But thisdiminution is affected by the curve of the flutes 69a, which is suchthat the openings thereat diminish at an increasing rate; in other words, the shape of the utes tends to cause an increase in hydraulic resistance proportionately greater than `the travel of the piston and shuttle. The net result is thatA the hydraulic resistance may vary approximately in proportion to the travel of the shuttle, which is gradually slowing down, or may diminishmore slowly than the rate of reduction in the shuttle speed, the latter condition being preferable. Hence the shuttle is brought to rest quickly but not so rapidly as to cause rebound. Diierently stated the rate of retardation preferably slightly increases 'as the shuttle loses speed. With a check strap the reduction inl speed is abrupt and sometimes haphazard. With resilient devices there is a storing up of energy which causes resistance to increase very rapidly so that the shuttle is stopped rather abruptly with consequent rebound. In the present invention, when the shuttle comes to rest, there is zero energy in the system except for a slight amount that may be caused in the spring 30. With resilient systems, the great energy stored would supplement the lug strap actuator 25 and cause such a powerful projecting impulse on the picker stick as to cause the shuttle to be thrown wild; also, a premature impulse might be l0 caused. It will be noted that when the piston v00 fully enters its cylinder as in Fig. 3, the shuttle is substantially at rest. as already described, the remainder of its energy being expended by resistance at the minute port Ill whereby the precise point at which the' shuttle nally stops is determined..

Although the present snubber unit has been described in connection with a loom structure and for the purpose of checking the inner and outer stroke limits of the picker stick, itis to be understood that there are other uses to which the same principle .may be employed, consequently. it is thought that considerable novelty resides in the snubber unit per se.

Also the unit is shownfgmounted upon theloom lay, but in practice it could be mounted upon some stationary object without departing from the spirit oi' the invention.

The uted portion of the piston and/or the cy lindrical part thereof in conjunction with the cylinder, and including the bleeder valve |22. if need be, may be termed a liquid throttllng means.

However, the bleeder valve is preferably termed a `second throttling means.

In the drawings and-speciiication, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they vare used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being denned in the claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for rapidi.: bringing to rest projectile-like element without rebound and for instantly projecting the same, along a given path,

- including means for yieldingly receiving the projectile-likeeelement and for powerfully projecting the same, comprising hydraulic means having a casing having a. cylinder and a. piston therein, a member for receiving the impact of the projectile-like element and for projecting the same, means engaging the member with the piston tor moving the latter. the hydraulic means having a restrictive outlet and a low pressure section communicating with the outlet and `having an inlet and an automatically operative check valve therefor, the outlet and inlet being spaced along the cylinder and being so related to the piston that when the member receives said impact liquid i@ vforced by the piston through the restrictive opening to absorb' the momentum of the projectile-like element, and upon reverse movement of the member and -hence of the piston the check valve freely opens to admit liquid tov the cylinder.

2. In combination with the picker of a loom and a shuttle which in its night across the loom strikes said picker, a. receptacle. a partition dividing theointerior of-the receptacle into a main compartment and an auxiliary compartment connected by an opening through the partition, a body of liquid lin the receptacle, a piston mountedfor reciprocation within the'main com-4 ,i sans said night, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder. an outer casing fully enclosing said cylinder and said piston, a liquid contained in said casing and completely nlling said cylinder around said piston at all times, means operatively connecting said pistonl to said impact means for advancing said piston against a substantially isolated component body o! said liquid disposed in the path oi said piston advancing under impetus of said shuttle striking said impact means, said piston being constructed so as to form with said cylinder an escape port whose ow area decreases progressively as said piston advances, thus permitting diminishing escape of said isolated liquid to decelerate the forward motion of the shuttle in the course oi said flight.

4. A checking device for a shuttle in flight across a loom. comprising impact means engageable by the shuttle approaching the terminus of said ilight, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder,

an outer casing completely enclosing said cylinder and said piston, a liquid contained in said casing and completely iilling said cylinder around said piston at all times, means operatively connecting said pistonto said impact means for advancing said piston against a substantially isolated component body of said liquid disposed in the path of said piston advancing under impetus of said -to decelerate thel forward movement of the shuttie in the course of said flight, a Din having a tapered end projecting into an orifice through which a predetermined portion of said isolated body of liquid must pass in the iinal stage of said flight oi' said shuttle, to bring said shuttle to a1 dead stop at a predetermined point in the course yoi said flight. and means for adjusting said means operatively connecting said piston to said shuttle striking said impact means, and means for controlling the rate of displacement of said isolated body oi liquid from in front of said piston including a pin having a. tapered Aend projecting into an orifice through which said body of liquid must pass in the final stage of said flight oi Said shuttle to bring said shuttle to a dead stop at a predetermined point in the course of said night. l

5. i checking device for a shuttle in night across a loom, comprising impact means engageable by the shuttle approaching the terminus of said ilight, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a liquid completely filling said cylinder around said piston at all times, means operatively connecting said piston to said impact means for advancing said piston against a substantially isolated component body of said liquid disposed in the path oi said piston advancing -under Y impetus of said shuttle striking said impact means, said piston being constructed so -as to form with said cylinder an escape port whose flow area decreases progressively as said piston ad-v vances, thus permitting. diminishing escape,of said isolated liquid to decelerate the forward movement of the shuttle in the course of said flight, and a pin having a, tapered end projecting into an orifice through which a predetermined portion of said isolated body oi. liquid must pass in the ilnal stage of said flight of said shuttle, to bring said shuttle to a dead stop at a predetermined point in the course of said flight.

6. A checking device for a shuttle in flight across a loom, comprising impact means engageable by the shuttle approaching the terminus vof said night, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder. a liquid completely lling said cylinder around said piston at all times, means operatively connecting said piston to said impact means for advancing said piston against a substantially isolated component body' of said liquid disposed in the path of said piston advancing under impetus of said shuttle striking said impact means. said piston being constructed so as to form with said A cylinder an escape port whose ilow area decreases progressively as said piston advances, thus perimpact means for advancing said piston with a front end thereof pressing against a component body of said liquid disposed in the path of said piston advancing under impetus of said shuttle striking said impact means. said4 piston having at least one longitudinally tapering recess formed in the exterior thereof, said recess being of gradually diminishing cross sectional area from the front end of said piston to a point intermediate the opposite ends of said piston, and

relatively fixed means comprising a circum thus permitting diminishing escape of said isolated liquid to decelerate the iorward motion of the shuttle in the course of said flight.

8. A checking device for a shuttle in flight across a loom, comprising impact means engageable by the shuttle approaching the terminus of said ight, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a receptacle containing a liquid completely iilling said cylinder around said piston at all times, means operatively connecting said piston to said impact means for advancing said piston with a frontend thereof pressing against a component body of said liquid disposed in the path of said piston advancing under impetus of said shuttle striking said impact means, said piston having at least one longitudinally tapering recess formed in the exterior thereof, said recess being of gradually diminishing cross sectional area from said front end of said piston to a point intermediate the opposite ends of said piston, relatively fixed means comprising a circumferential edge on said cylinder cooperating with said longitudinally tapering recess to form an escape port whose flow area decreases progressively as vsaid piston advances in said cylinder, thus per- .operable axially in an exhaust orifice communieating with the interior of said cylinder and af,

fording the sole means of escape for said liquid from said cylinder after the inner terminal end of said recesspasses saidcircumferential edge of said cylinder, for stopping said shuttle dead at a predetermined pointv in said course of night.

9.' A checking device for a shuttle in flight in one direction across a loom, comprising impact means engageable by the shuttle approaching the terminus of said ilight, a cylinder having an open end, a piston in said cylinder at the open end thereof, a receptacle containing a liquid completely nlling said cylinder around said piston at all times. means operatively connecting said 13 piston to said impact means .for driving a front end of said piston against a component body of said liquid disposed vin the path of said piston advancing under impetus of said impact means being struck and driven in said direction by said shuttle, means for operating said impact means l to drive and launch said shuttle in flight in the4 opposite direction across said loom, said piston having at least one longitudinally tapering recess formed in the exterior thereof at and adjacent said front end thereof, saidrecess being of` piston advances into said cylinder. thus per` mitting diminishing escape of said isolated liquid to decelerate the forward motion of the shuttle in the course' of said flight, a head in'said receptacle spaced axially beyond said open end of said Cylinder, said head having a circular recess concentric with the axis of said cylinder to receive the second end of said piston and cushion it against liquid therein for arresting the movement of said impact means after. said shuttle launching thereby.

10. A checking device for a shuttle in flight in one direction across a loom, comprising impact means engageable by the shuttle approaching the terminus of said flight, a cylinder having an open end, a piston in said cylinder at the open end thereof, a receptacle containing a liquid pompletely filling said cylinder around said'piston at all times, means operatively connecting said piston to said impact means for driving a front end of said piston against a component body of said liquid disposed in the path of said piston advancing under impetus of said impact means being struck and driven in said direction by said shuttle, means for operating said impact means to drive and launch said shuttle in flight in the opposite direction across 'said loom, said piston having at least one longitudinally tapering recess formed in the exterior thereof at and adjacent said front end thereof, said recess being of gradually diminishing cross sectional area from said front end to a point intermediate the oppo- A site ends of said piston. relatively fixed means comprising a circumferential edge atthe open end of said cylinder cooperating with said longitudinally tapering recess to form an escape port whose flowarea decreases progressively as said piston advances into said cylinder, this permitting diminishing escape of said isolated 'liquid to decelerate the forward motion of the shuttle in the course of said flight, a head in said receptacle spaced axially beyond said open end of said cylinder, said head having a circular recess concentric with the axis of said cylinder to receive the second end of said piston and cushion it against liquid therein for arresting the movement of said impact means after said shuttle launching thereby, and means for adjusting said head axially to vary the effective liquid capacity oi said recess relative tosaid second end of said piston,

11. A checking device for a shuttle in flight across a loom, comprising impact means engageable by the shuttle approaching the terminus of said flight, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder,

. a liquid completely lling said cylinder around said piston at all times, means operatively con l necting said piston to said impact means for ad vancing said piston against a component body of said liquid disposed in the path of said piston advancing under impetus of said shuttle striking said impact means, said piston being constructed so as to form with said cylinder an escape port whose ow area decreases progressively as said piston advances, thus permitting diminishing escape of said body of liquid to decelerate the forward motion of the shuttle in the course of said ight, and a spring pressed valve element normallyclosing one end of said cylinder during forward movement of said piston therein and adapted to open during a return movement of :raid piston in said cylinder to permit said liquid to follow said piston in said cylinder without' restriction.

12. In combination with the picker oi a loom, a receptacle, a partition dividing the interior of the receptacle into a main compartment and an auxiliary compartment surrounding the main compartment, said compartments being interconnected by an opening through the partition, a body of liquid in the receptacle, a piston mounted for reciprocation within the main compartment, and connections from the picker to the piston to drive the piston in a direction such as to force liquid from the main compartment through the opening into the auxiliary compartment, whereby the motion of the picker will be checked v13. In a loom, a picker, means to throw said picker inwardly to cast a shuttle, return means to move said picker outwardly to an intermediate shuttle-receiving position, a check device 'toabsorb the energy of the shuttle after it strikes the pickerto bring said picker and shuttle to a dead stop, said check device comprising a receptacle, partition means dividing the interior of the receptacle into a main compartment and an auxiliary compartment connected by an opening through the partition, a body of liquid in the receptacle, a piston mounted for reciprocation within the main compartment, and connections from the picker to the piston to drive the piston in a direction such as to force liquid from the main compartment through the opening into the auxiliary compartment when the 'shuttle strikes the picker in its ilight, said liquid transfer causing the motion of the picker to be checked and the energy of the shuttle to be dissipated so that both stop without rebound. l

14. A checking device for a shuttle in flight across a loom, comprising impact means engageable by the shuttle approaching the terminus of said flight, a cylinder member, a piston member in said cylinder member, a reservoir, a liquid contained in said reservoir and completely filling said cylinder around said piston member at `al1 times, means operatively connecting said piston member to said impact means, the impetus'- of said shuttle striking said impact means advancing said piston against a substantially isolated component body of said liquid disposed in the path of said piston, means formed ongsaid piston and cylinder members cooperating to form an escape port for said isolated body of liquid, relative motion of said cylinder and piston members progressively reducing the flow area of said escape port as said members te1escope together, to decelerate the forward motion ofl the shuttle after it strikes said impact g means in the course of said flight.

15. A checking device for a shuttle in ight across a loom, comprising limpact means en- 'gageable by the vshuttle approaching the -gageable by the shuttle terminus o! said night, a cylinder, a pieton in/ said cylinder, a reservoir, a liquid contained in said reservoir and completely nlling said cylinder around said piston at all times, means operatively connecting said piston to said impact means, the impetus of said shuttle striking said impact means advancing said piston against a substantially isolated lcomponent body of said liquid disposed in the path of said piston, and passageway meansl formed by cooperation of said piston and cylinder for `controlling the rate of displacement of said isolated body of liquid from in front o'f said piston to the reservoir, said passageway means being progressively reduced as said piston advances into the cylinder after the shuttle strikes the said impact means to bring said shuttle to a/dead stop at a predetermined point in the course of its night.

16. A checking device for a shuttle in night across a loom, comprising impact means enapproaching the terminus of said night, a cylinder member, a piston member in said cylinder member, a receptacle containing a liquid completely nlling said cylinder around said piston at all times, means operatively connecting said piston to said impact means, the impetus oi said shuttle striking said impact means advancing said piston with a front end thereof pressing against a component body of said liquid disposed in the path of said piston, an escape passageway for said vcomponent; body of i liquid comprising a least one longitudinally tapering recess formed in the exterior of one of said cylinder and piston members and of gradually diminishing cross sectional area from one end to the other, the other of said members having a circumferential edge cooperating with said longitudinally tapering recess to provide an escape port and` for` automatically reducing the now area of said port progressivelyas said piston advances in said cylinder, to decelerate the forward motion of the shuttle in the course of said night.

17. In a loom, a shuttle for night to and fro across the loom, .shuttle impact meansv being alternately engageable by the shuttle approaching the terminus of its night and operated to drive and launch saidshuttle in night in the opposite direction across the loom, a check device for the shuttle and impact means comprising acylinder having an open end, a piston in said cylinder at the open end thereof., a reservoir containing a liquid with said liquid completely nlling said cylinder ahead of said piston, means for operatively connecting said piston to the impact means of the loom, the impetus oi' the impact means. when being struck and driven in one direction by the shuttle driving a front end' of said piston against a component body oi said liquid disposed in the path of said piston, a passageway in said piston for said component body of liquid comprising at least one longitudinally tapering recess formed in the exterior of said piston, said passageway being oi gradually diminishing cross sectional area from a point near the front end of the piston to a point intermediate the opposite ends of said piston. relatively nxed means comprising a circumferential edge at the open end of said cylinderV cooperating with said longitudinally tapering recess to form anescape port and for automatically reducing the now area of said port progressively as said piston advances into said cylinder to decelerate the forward motion o! the shuttle in the course of said night. a second cylinder means in said check device spaced axially beyond s aid open end of said nrst cylinder and concentric with the axis of said nrst cylinder to receive the second end oi' said piston and cushion it against liquid therein for arrest,- ing the movement of said impact means aiter said shuttle launching thereby.

18. In a loom, a shuttle for night to and fro across the loom, impact means engageable by the shuttle approaching the terminus of its night in one direction across the loom, means for operating said impact means to drive and launch said shuttle ln night in the opposite direction across said loom, a check device for said shuttle -and impact means comprising a nrst cylinder having an open end, a piston in said cylinder at the open end thereof, df receptacle containing liquid completely nlling said cylinder around said piston at all times. means operatively connecting said piston to said impact means, the impetus of said impact means when struck and driven in said direction by' said shuttle driving a front end of said piston against a component` port progressively as said piston advances into said cylinder to decelerate the forward motion of the shuttle in the course of said night, a second cylinder means in said receptacle spaced axially beyond said open end of said nrst cylinder, said second cylinder having a circular recess concentric with the axis of said first cylinderto receive the second end oi said piston and cushion it against liquid therein for arresting the movement of said impact means after said shuttle launching thereby, and means for adjusting said second cylinder axially to vary the effective liquid capacity of said recess relative to said second end of said piston.

19. A check device for a loom shuttle that is cast in? night across the loom and received by impact Umeans engageable by the shuttle approaching the terminus oi itsnight, said check device comprising a cylinder member, a piston member in said cylinder member, a reservoir, a

' liquid contained in said reservoir and completely liquid. relative motion of said cylinder and piston members progressively reducing the now area of said escape port as said members telescope together to decelerate the forward motion o! the shuttle after it strikes the impact means in the course of its night. I 4

20.A checking device fora loom shuttle that is cast in night across the loom and received by impact means engageable by the shuttle aperatively connecting said piston to the impact means so that the impetus of the shuttle striking the,l impact means will advance said piston against a substantially isolated component body of said liquid disposed in the path of said piston,`

and passageway means formedvby cooperation of said piston andJ cylinder for controlling the rate ,y

.of displacement of said isolated body of liquid from in front of said piston to the reservoir, said` passageway means being progressively reduced as said piston advances into the cylinden after the shuttle strikes the impact means] to'bring said'shuttle to a dead stop at'a predetermined point in the course of its flight.

21. A checking device for a loom shuttle that i. around said piston at all times, means for operais cast in night across the loom and received by impact means engageable by the shuttleapproaching the terminus of its night, said check device comprising a cylinder member, a piston member in said cylinder member, a receptacle containing a liquid completely iilling saidcylin'- der around said piston at all times, means for operatively connecting said piston to the impact means so that the impetus of the shuttle striking the impact means will advance said piston with a front end thereof pressing against -a component body of said liquid disposed inthe path of said piston, an escapepassageway for said co ponent body of liquid'comprising at least one longitudinally tapering recess formed in the exterior of one of said cylinder and piston mem- -bers and of gradually diminishing cross sectional area from one end to the-other, the other of said members having a circumferential edge cooperating with said longitudinally tapering recess to provide an escape port and for automatically reducingthe flow area of said port progressively as said piston advances in said cylinder to decelerate the forward motionof the `shuttle in the course lof its night.

22. A checking device for a loom shuttle that is cast in flight across the loom and receivedby impact means when the shuttle approaches the terminus of itsflight with the impact means being operated to drive and launchvsaid shuttle in flight in the opposite direction across the loom,

said check device comprising a cylinder having an open end, a piston in said cylinder at the open open end of said first cylinder and concentric' with the axis of said first cylinder to receive the second end of said piston and 'cushion it against A liquid therein for arresting the movement of said impact means after said shuttle launching thereby, said second cylinder means being axially ad- .iustable to vary the eilect of said cushioning action. Y

23. A check device fort-a loom shuttle that is in night in one' direction across the loom and received by impact means engageable by the shuttle 'approaching the terminus of itsfiight, the impact means being operable to drive and Iauncnsaid f shuttle in night in the opposite direction across, said'loom, said check device' comprising a first cylinder .having an open end, a piston in said. `ycylinder at theopen end thereof, a receptacle containing liquid completely filling said cylinder i tively connecting said piston' to said impact means .for` driving a, front end of said piston against a lcomponent body of said liquid disposed in the path of said piston under impetus of' said impact means being struck and driven in said direction by the shuttle, an escape port in said piston for said component body of liquid comprising ,at least one longitudinally tapering recess formed in the exterior of said piston at and'adjacent said front end thereof and of gradually diminishing cross sectional area from said front end to a point intermediate the opposite ends of said piston, relatively fixed means comprising a circumferential edge at the open endl of said cylinder cooperating with said longitudinally tapering recess for automatically reducing the flow area of said pori; progressively as said piston advances into said cylinder to decelerate the forward motion of the shuttle in the course of 'said flight, a second cylinder means in said receptacle spaced axially beyond said open end of said first cylinder, said second cylinder having a circular recess concentric with the axis of said first cylinder to receive the second end of said piston and cushion it against liquid therein for arresting the movement of said impact means after said shuttle launching thereby, and means for adjusting said second cylinderv axially to vary the eiective liquid capacity of said recess relative to said secon'd end of said piston.

end thereof, a reservoir containing a liquid with said liquid completely filling said cylinder ahead of said piston, means for operatively connecting said piston to the'impact means ofthe loom forA driving a front end of said piston against a component body of said liquid disposed in the pathv relatively fixed means comprising a circumferential edge at the open end of said cylinder cooperating with said longitudinally tapering recess to form an escape port and for automaticallyreducing the flow area of said port progressively as said piston advances into said cylinder to de- .celerate-the forward motion of the shuttle in the tion orifice means providing restricted liquidl 24. In combination in aloom, lay mechanism, a shuttle, a pickerr mounted to move a predetermined distance inwardly and outwardly along s aid lay mechanism, power means to vmove said picker inwardly to cast the shuttle,y spring means to thereafter move said picker outwardly to an intermediate position fory receiving the shuttle in its flight,'a hydraulic check device for said shuttle associated with the picker, said check device including a liquid reservoir, relativelyLmovable cylinder and piston members, and restrictransfer from the cylinder to the reservoir upon relative motion of the cylinder and piston .members, means associated with said picker and said check device to cause relative motion of said cyl-v inder and piston'members upon motion of the picker, impact of the shuttle urging said picker further outwardly after the spring means has returned the picker tov said intermediate shuttle receiving position, whereupon liquid transfer within the check devices absorbs the energy of the shuttleto bring the shuttle land picker to a dead stop without rebound.

25.1In combination in a loom, lay mechanism.y

a shuttle box-a shuttle. a picker mounted to move \a predetermined. distance inwardly and -outwardly along; said lay mechanism. power meansto move said picker inwardly to cast the shuttle.` spring means to thereafter move saidA picker out-- intermediate position for receiving wardly to rthe shuttle its night. after the shuttle has subjstantially entered the shuttlev box, p, hydraulic check devicerior saidahuttle associated with the picker, said check device including a liquid reservoir, relatively movable cylinder and piston members, and vrestriction orince means providing restricted liquid transfer from the cylinder to the reservoir upon relative motion of the cylinder and piston members. means associated with said picker and said. check device to -cause relative the enerly ot the shuttle iso brins the shuttlev motion o! saidcylinder and piston membersupon motion of the picker, impact of the shuttle urging saidpicker vi'urtlier outwardly after the spring means has `returned thepicker to said Vinterp mediate' shuttlar'eceivinz position. whereupon yNumber o liquid transfer within the Acheck devices absorbsJ and picker-,to a ydead stop without rebound.

l y o'r'ro s. Ko'rrnMANN.

`rnerrtrrrzyz'crssi crrnn The following reierences are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNrmn s'rs'rms PATENTS y Name Date j 404,012 Nickerson May 28, 188i! 977,562 comme July 3.1991

'127,031 Adams --.1- May s, 1903 '1,141,393 Feman -;June 1,1915.;

. 1,393,314 Bram -3---- Jan. 25, 1921 1,765,314 stuart June 1v, 1930 1,373,431 Richter Aug. 23,1932 1 03,399 Whitten .'-May `9,\1933 1, 23,233 Enn13,.3 v sept. 2e. 1933 9,130,339 Moessmzer May 3o, 1939 2.423.971

`K0ttemann -'...f Sept. 2, 1947 

